The Shell Newsletter – August 15, 2019

August 15, 2019
Parish Office
Announcements, From the Rector, The Shell

From the Rector – Fall Grace & Grub Dinner Groups

Fellowship dinners are back for the fall! Sign up in the narthex to join a small group to gather in homes for conversation and food monthly from September to November. You’re invited to sign up if you weren’t able to be a part of a spring Grace & Grub group. You’re invited if you were a part of a spring Grace & Grub group and enjoyed it so much you want to get to know more folks this time around. You’re invited if you’re a family with small children or older kids. You’re invited if you’re a couple or single. The joy of these dinners are all of us getting to know one another more deeply and being knit into the St. James’ family. Dinners will take place on 2nd Saturdays (9/14, 10/12, 11/9) and will rotate among members homes. When you sign up you can indicate whether you’d like to host or just be a part of a group. Each Sunday in August, look for reflections from people who enjoyed being a part of a group in the spring. If you have any questions drop me a line!

Yours in God’s peace, Kristin+

Basket Raffle and Silent Auction

Our 13th Annual Basket Raffle & Silent Auction will be held again this year at two of our town events—the Mt. Airy Lions Club Fall Yard Sale on Saturday, September 21st at the Firemen’s Carnival Grounds at the intersection of Twin Arch Rd. and Rte. 27 and the Oktoberfest in downtown Mt. Airy on Saturday, September 28th-–please mark your calendars! As in the past, the completed Baskets and Silent Auction items will be on display at St. James’ for three Sundays beginning September 15th. Tickets will be on sale at the Church during that time. Winning tickets will be drawn on Monday morning, September 30th at the Church.

Here’s how you can help

Volunteer to be a part of the Basket Raffle committee to assist with publicity, flyer distribution, soliciting donations and gift certificates from local businesses, or make/donate a completed basket using a theme of your choice or bring new or like new items from home to donate. Committee members and volunteers will design and create themed baskets during August and early September. There is still time for donating finished baskets with a deadline of Sunday, August 25th. If you have questions about baskets, want to donate a finished basket, or want to volunteer for the Basket Brigade (August/September) call or email Joan Fader at 301-703-8787 or at faderj1@juno.com. Join the fun and make new friends!

Items for the Silent Auction are also being accepted through Sunday, September 8th. These are items that would generate higher bids by themselves than as a part of a basket. Such items could include paintings, quilts, unopened perfume, fine jewelry or, high-value gift certificates, and the like. If you have questions about the Silent Auction, please contact Mary Hutchins-Danna at 443-277-0505 or at mhdslp@hotmail.com

Event Volunteers are needed to assist with ticket sales before and during the Basket Raffle & Auction, to assist with transporting baskets between St. James’ Church and the carnival grounds or downtown, setting up tents and tables, as well as, calling winners of Baskets and Silent Auction items. Contact Betsy Davis by email at jbeezd@aol.com if you have questions, or you can sign up for times to assist on SignUp.com beginning in late August. Let’s, once again, make the St. James’ Basket Raffle & Silent Auction a huge success! Thank you in advance for your generosity of spirit and continued support. Your Basket Raffle & Auction Committee

C&O Canal Prayer Hike – UPDATE Join us for our final prayer hike of the summer along the lovely C&O Canal on 8/25. This is a flat trail**– perfect for strollers and folks up for a nice afternoon walk. We will meet up at 3:00 pm at Monocacy Aqueduct (21115 Mouth of Monocacy Rd., Dickerson, MD 20842) and walk for about a mile and a half total. Our hike will begin and end with prayer and include a time of reflection in the middle – with space for conversation and silence along the way. Sign up in the narthex and invite a friend! **Previously we indicated that the trail is paved – it is not paved, it is hard packed dirt and gravel. Still flat and still great for strollers!

Summer Book Group Gathering You still have time to grab a copy of Rachel Held Evan’s Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again in time to gather with others in conversation on 8/27 at 7:00 pm at the Mt. Airy Tavern. Sign up in the narthex so we can reserve a table.

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Parish Administrator Hours for the week of Aug. 18, Monday through Thursday 10-4.

Contribution Statements Please pick up your 6 month 2019 statement from the basket in the narthex. They will be available thru Aug 30th; after that they will be shredded due to the rising cost of postage. Please contact Aline if you have any questions about your statement. Thank you.

Exciting News – Scouts are coming to St. James’! Recently we shared the news that St. James’ is becoming a new Charter Organization for the Boy Scouts of America. Click here to see all the information.